Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Plain Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plain Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #403 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 102 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Plain Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Plain Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hail
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Plain Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plain Township, and Plain Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 9% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #403 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plain Township’s residents live in 16 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Plain Township has less expected damage per building than 59% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.1M a year in losses across Plain Township: $9.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plain Township flood? Yes: 102 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plain Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late winter storms9 claims · $466K
- Tropical Storm Erin1 claim · $18K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $42K
Plain Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stark County.The storms Plain Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Stark County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Plain Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201148 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 200316 flood claims paidThe year of Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds, declared for Stark County
- 19799 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Stark County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Plain Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plain Township archive →Plain Township and its neighbors
Plain Township is 5th of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lake Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Nimishillen Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Canton Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Plain Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 102 |
| North Canton | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Canton | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Plain Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Plain Township
Is Plain Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plain Township has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #403 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hail (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plain Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 102 claims in Plain Township since 1979, $3.6M in all, or 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Late winter storms (9).
Is Plain Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Stark County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Plain Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plain Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Plain Township?
By flood claims, Late winter storms: 9 paid, $466K.
Is Plain Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Plain Township’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plain Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plain Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.